Horse hoods and methods of making

Abstract

Horse hoods, horse neck covers, and methods of making same which result in at least improved fit and comfort, are provided herein. One such horse hood or neck cover includes a base portion (110), an upper neck portion (120), and a gusset (140) coupled between the base portion and the upper neck portion. Each of the portions and gusset may be generally symmetric relative to a common centerline (160). The gusset is adapted to provide a hinged movement of the upper neck portion relative to the base portion when the upper neck portion is rotated relative to the base portion. In this manner, the neck cover has an expansion feature when a horse (300) or other animal wearing it lowers its head, to graze, drink, eat, or the like.

1. A horse neck cover, comprising:
 a base portion; 
 an upper neck portion that is hingedly attached to the base portion underneath the neck of the horse ; and 
 a gusset coupled between the base portion and the upper neck portion; 
 wherein the gusset is adapted to provide a hinged movement of the upper neck portion relative to the base portion when the upper neck portion is rotated relative to the base portion to cause the upper neck portion to separate from the base portion at the crown portion of the neck of the horse. 
 
   
   
     2. The horse neck cover as in  claim 1  wherein the gusset is generally disposed under the base portion and the upper neck portion when the base portion and upper neck portion are in a first positional relationship. 
   
   
     3. The horse neck cover as in  claim 1  wherein the gusset comprises a foldable insert disposed between the base portion and the upper neck portion, the insert having a generally triangular shape. 
   
   
     4. The horse neck cover as in  claim 1  wherein the base portion is adapted to be coupled to a horse blanket. 
   
   
     5. The horse neck cover as in  claim 1  wherein the upper neck portion further comprises a face cover portion. 
   
   
     6. The horse neck cover as in  claim 1  wherein the base portion comprises a generally wind resistant outer material around a filler material. 
   
   
     7. The horse neck cover as in  claim 1  wherein the upper neck portion comprises a generally wind resistant outer material around a filler material. 
   
   
     8. The horse neck cover as in  claim 1  wherein the gusset comprises a generally wind resistant material. 
   
   
     9. The horse neck cover as in  claim 1  wherein the base portion, the upper neck portion and the gusset are generally symmetric relative to a common centerline. 
   
   
     10. The horse neck cover as in  claim 1  further comprising a coupler for coupling together opposing edges of the upper neck portion. 
   
   
     11. The horse neck cover as in  claim 1  further comprising a coupler for coupling together opposing edges of the base portion. 
   
   
     12. A horse neck cover having right and left side portions adapted to lie along a horse's neck and extend down the right and left sides of the horses neck, respectively, the horse neck cover comprising:
 a first segment having right and left side edges and a front edge; 
 a second segment coupled to the first segment right and left side edges, the second segment having a back edge, wherein the second segment is hingedly attached to the first segment underneath the neck of the horse ; and 
 a gusset coupled between the first segment front edge and the second segment back edge, the gusset adapted to allow relative rotational movement of the second and first segments at the crown portion of the horse's neck. 
 
   
   
     13. The horse neck cover as in  claim 12  wherein the first segment is adapted to be coupled to a horse blanket. 
   
   
     14. The horse neck cover as in  claim 12  wherein the relative rotational movement comprises a rotational movement of the second segment relative to the first segment about an axis of rotation generally formed where the second segment is coupled to the first segment right and left side edges. 
   
   
     15. The horse neck cover as in  claim 12  wherein the relative rotational movement is provided by a lowering of the horse's neck by the horse. 
   
   
     16. The horse neck cover as in  claim 12  wherein the second segment further comprises right and left side edges. 
   
   
     17. The horse neck cover as in  claim 16  wherein the right side edges of the first and second segments define a common seam to which the gusset is coupled. 
   
   
     18. The horse neck cover as in  claim 16  wherein the left side edges of the first and second segments define a common seam to which the gusset is coupled. 
   
   
     19. The horse neck cover as in  claim 18  wherein the gusset has its greatest length between the first segment front edge and the second segment back edge at a crown portion. 
   
   
     20. The horse neck cover as in  claim 18  wherein the gusset comprises a foldable material which is adapted to fold between the first and second segment crown portions. 
   
   
     21. The horse neck cover as in  claim 12  wherein the first segment front edge and the second segment back edge are generally adjacent each other when the second segment is in a non-rotated position. 
   
   
     22. The horse neck cover as in  claim 21  wherein the gusset is at least partially folded under the first or second segment. 
   
   
     23. The horse neck cover as in  claim 12  wherein the first segment front edge and the second segment back edge are spaced apart when the second segment is in a rotated position. 
   
   
     24. The horse neck cover as in  claim 23  wherein the gusset is exposed between the first segment front edge and the second segment back edge.